Camelback Mountain

My friend Heidi suggested that we should climb Camelback Mountain. She exercises four times a week and regularly hikes South Mountain. Let's just say I don't. Still, it seemed like a "good" idea, and my 12-year-old, Kelly, wanted to go. After studying our water-damaged hiking book (that's another story), Kelly decided we should attempt the "easier" Cholla Trail. Heidi thought that was fine, and we agreed to meet at 6:30 am last Saturday.

I knew it was going to be hard, but I wasn't prepared for all of the setbacks. First, Kelly and I got lost. I was almost to the McDonald exit going north on the 101 when I decided I must have confused McDonald with McDowell, and I knew McDowell wouldn't get me to Camelback, at least not directly. (And, yes, I've heard of maps and MapQuest, but I was in a hurry!) So, I turned back and went south on the 101, planning to head west again on the 202. According to the hiking book, I should have exited on 44th Street anyway. Of course--thanks to ADOT--the interchange from the 101 to the 202 was closed, and I was forced to get off the 101 in Tempe.

After realizing my original mistake, though, I got back on the 101, got off at McDonald and turned south on Invergordon, like I should have in the first place. By now, it was 6:45, prime hiking time during a Phoenix summer. You can't park near the trail head because the neighborhood's multi-million dollar mansion owners don't want us everyday folk driving up and down their streets. You have to park on Invergordon and walk to Cholla. Then, you walk a quarter of a mile, according to Kelly and the hiking book, to the actual trail head. If you arrive late, like we did, and have to park farther down Invergordon to begin with, you could walk more than a half mile before you even get to the trail.

I was tired enough before beginning the trail, but I almost died when I realized that this trail wasn't the gradual switchback up Camelback that I had expected. Cholla Trail is a winding series of rock "steps." Think intense intervals on the Stairmaster. I don't know how far we got. I was about to put 911 on speed dial, just in case, when Kelly gave up.

Kelly had bounded energetically ahead at first. After marker 14, though, she suddenly fell back with me and began complaining about the heat. I didn't think much of it because it was hot. It was June and humid after all. When she said she didn't feel good, though, we immediately stopped. I think she got dehydrated. (Even though we all had water packs, she admitted she had only had a few small sips.) While she and I made our way slowly back down, Heidi went on to the top.

Hiking Camelback Mountain is something every Phoenician should do at least once, or so I'm told. (Actually, I think Heidi was the one that told me that. Hmm...) I think it's going to be a while before I try again. At least, not until January.